The IPL 2024 Auction turned out to be a great day for the Indian uncapped players, who managed to bag deals over crores. Shubham Dubey, the dashing batsman, was one among them and attracted a bid of INR 5.8 Cr from Rajasthan Royals. Now a ‘crorepati’, there’s a lot that will change in the lives of Dubey, and his family, who didn’t come from a strong financial background.
As per a report in the Times of India, his father Badriprasad ran a paan shop in Nagpur. “It’s an unreal feeling. I did well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). So, I was hopeful of being picked in the auction. Frankly, though, I was not expecting such a big amount,” Dubey told TOI.
Perhaps the biggest reason in him bagging the IPL contract was the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored 222 runs in seven matches, at a strike rate of 187.28. He also scored the joint-fastest fifty for Vidarbha against Bengal. Remembering his financial struggles, Dubey said, “Our financial condition was really bad at that time. Sudip sir helped me a lot. Without his support, I wouldn’t have achieved anything in my life.”
“For me buying even a glove was not possible. He gave me a new bat, and kit. He included me in the playing XI for Under-19, Under-23 and ‘A’ Division teams. Without him, I wouldn’t have made it to the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) team,” Dubey said.